The insurgent group has been constructing bunkers at undisclosed
locations along the Indo-Myanmar border. This was communicated to
Myanmar during a Joint Consultative Commission meeting attended by
foreign ministers of the two countries on Thursday in New Delhi.

By Abhishek-Bhalla

The home ministry has asked the PMO to ban the outfit.
Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalan-Khaplang (NSCN-K),
responsible for the attack on the Army that killed 18 jawans in March,
is readying itself for a long-drawn-battle across the border in Myanmar
fearing an onslaught by Indian and Myanmar forces.

The
insurgent group has been constructing bunkers at undisclosed locations
along the Indo-Myanmar border. This was communicated to Myanmar during a
Joint Consultative Commission meeting attended by foreign ministers of
the two countries on Thursday in New Delhi.

A
note prepared for the meeting said that apprehensive of Myanmar Army
movement towards the Taga-Lungmak area, NSCN-K instructed officials of
United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) to complete construction of
underground facilities, possibly bunkers.

"They
were also instructed to restrict movement of their cadres and store
essential items," the note said. Following the attack, the home ministry
has been pushing for NSCN-K to be included in the list of banned
organisations under the anti-terror law. The home ministry has submitted
an action plan to the Prime Minister's Office on how banning the outfit
will allow law enforcement agencies to crackdown on it.

However,
there is a view in the government that there could still be a
possibility of peace talks with the group but home ministry which looks
after issues related to insurgency in the North East is not in favour of
any dialogue with them at the moment.

Soon after the
attack, the Army carried out strikes in Myanmar targeting NSCN-K camps.
Since then the forces have intensified operations against the rebel
group.

With NSCN-K abrogating the 14-year-old ceasefire
in March, its Chairman SS Khaplang and ULFA chief Paresh Baruah
initiated the formation of an umbrella group named United National
Liberation Front of West South East Asia.

India also took
up the issue of NSCN-K cadres abducting young boys from villages in
Nagaland along the Myanmar border for recruitment in the group. Mail
Today had earlier reported that nine boys were abducted and made to
cross the border for being recruited in the group. Sources said the
group was also setting up new camps at secret locations in Myanmar after
intelligence agencies were successful in locating the old ones.